The Montreal Canadiens are more than a hockey team — they are an institution, the most decorated franchise in NHL history and the beating heart of a province that lives and breathes le hockey. For Habs fans, watching a game isn't just about the result; it's about hearing the call in the right language, from the broadcast crew you grew up with, whether that's the English voices on Sportsnet East or the French commentary on RDS and TVA Sports.
That bilingual reality is also what makes following the Canadiens uniquely complicated. English and French rights are held by different broadcasters, regional and national games live on different channels, and a fan outside Quebec faces an entirely different set of obstacles. This guide untangles all of it — and shows how a single sports-ready IPTV subscription delivers every Canadiens game in English or French, with no blackouts and no app-juggling.
English vs French: The Canadiens Broadcast Split
No other NHL team has a viewing picture quite like Montreal's, because every game effectively exists twice — once in English, once in French.
In English, the Canadiens' regional games air mostly on Sportsnet East, with some games on TSN2, and national/Saturday games on Sportsnet and CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.
In French, RDS carries the regional French-language broadcasts while TVA Sportsholds the national French NHL package. For a francophone fan, RDS and TVA Sports are the channels that matter most — and they're often the hardest to get bundled together on a single conventional service.
Canadiens Channel Map — English & French
| Window | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regional (English) | Sportsnet East / TSN2 | Bulk of the weeknight schedule in English |
| Regional (French) | RDS | French-language regional broadcasts |
| National (English) | Sportsnet / CBC (HNIC) | Saturday & marquee games |
| National (French) | TVA Sports | French national NHL package |
| Playoffs | Sportsnet / CBC · TVA Sports | Full coverage in both languages |
Tivimate carries Sportsnet East, TSN2, RDS, TVA Sports, the national Sportsnet feeds and CBC — every row, English and French, in one guide.
Watching in Quebec vs Elsewhere in Canada
In Quebec and the Maritimes, you're in the Canadiens' home territory, so RDS and Sportsnet East are your regional feeds. The wrinkle is national exclusivity: during an exclusive national Sportsnet or TVA Sports window, the regional feed may be blacked out for that game and you switch to the national channel instead.
Outside Quebec, the challenge flips. A Habs fan in Toronto, Calgary or Vancouver may not get RDS or Sportsnet East in their local cable package at all — and out-of-market games can be blocked or locked behind a paid add-on. For francophone fans abroad of Quebec, finding French commentary becomes especially difficult.
Tivimate dissolves both problems. Because it carries every regional and national feed in both languages, a fan anywhere in Canada can pull up the Canadiens in English on Sportsnet East or in French on RDS and TVA Sports — same app, same subscription, no blackout. For the full picture of Canadian feeds, see our hub guide on how to watch NHL in Canada.
Why the Bilingual Choice Matters
French as it should be
TVA Sports and RDS deliver the calls, analysis and intermission shows in French — the authentic Habs experience for Quebec fans.
English when you want it
Prefer the Sportsnet East crew, or watching with anglophone friends? Switch feeds instantly within the same app.
French outside Quebec
Francophone families living across Canada can keep watching in their language — no longer a privilege of a Quebec address.
One household, two languages
Bilingual households can pick the language per game, per viewer — flexibility no single cable feed offers.
More Than Just the Habs
The same Tivimate subscription that gives you the Canadiens in two languages also delivers every other Canadian club, all of North America's major sports, and 50,000+ channels of movies, news and international content. It's a genuinely complete IPTV service, not a one-team add-on.
- →Every Canadian NHL team across all regional and national feeds.
- →NFL, NBA, MLB, soccer, UFC, Formula 1 and more.
- →RDS, TVA Sports and the full French-language sports lineup.
- →4K UHD where available, with anti-freeze delivery for smooth overtime.
Get Set Up in Four Steps
Start the free trial
Activate the 24-hour Tivimate free trial — no credit card. Sportsnet East, RDS and TVA Sports are available immediately.
Choose your language
Open the sports category and decide whether you're watching tonight in English or French — both feeds are right there.
Check the EPG
Use the guide to confirm which channel has tonight's Canadiens game — regional or national, English or French.
Pick your plan
Happy with it? Choose a plan from $14.99/month. The annual plan adds two free months, with no contract ever.
One Plan, Two Languages
No French-tier surcharge, no out-of-market add-on, no contract. Every Canadiens feed in English and French for one price.
- · 1 month — $14.99
- · 6 months — $34.99
- · 12 months — $54.99 (plus 2 FREE months)
- · 24 months — $84.99
See the full breakdown on the pricing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What channel are the Montreal Canadiens on in English?
English-language Canadiens regional games air primarily on Sportsnet East, with additional games on TSN2. National marquee and Saturday games appear on Sportsnet and Hockey Night in Canada (simulcast on CBC). Tivimate carries all of these English feeds.
How can I watch the Canadiens in French?
French-language coverage of the Canadiens is carried by RDS for regional games and TVA Sports for national broadcasts. Tivimate includes both TVA Sports and RDS, so francophone Habs fans can follow every game in French.
Can I watch the Canadiens from outside Quebec?
Yes. Tivimate carries Sportsnet East, RDS and TVA Sports alongside the national feeds, so Habs fans living anywhere in Canada can follow the team in English or French without a regional blackout or out-of-market package.
How much does it cost to watch the Canadiens with Tivimate?
Plans start at $14.99 per month with no contract. The 12-month plan is $54.99 with two free months included, and a 24-hour free trial lets you test both the English and French feeds before subscribing.
Do I need cable to watch the Canadiens?
No. Tivimate streams Sportsnet East, RDS, TVA Sports and CBC over the internet to a Firestick, smart TV, phone or computer — no cable, dish or installation required.
Watch the Habs in Any Language — Free for 24 Hours
Sportsnet East in English, TVA Sports and RDS in French — every Canadiens game in one app, no blackouts.
Stream Everything with Tivimate
50,000+ live channels · NFL · NBA · MLB · 4K UHD · No contract · From $14.99/month